Automatic and semi-automatic guns having a double feed mechanism



July 1, 1969 B. MAILLARD 3,452,640

AUTOMATIC AND SEMI-AUTOMATIC GUNS HAVING A DOUBLE FEED MECHANISM Filed Maron 13, 1967 sheet of e I H E B. MAILLARD 3,452,640

AUTOMATIC AND SEMI-AUTOMATIC GUNS HAVING A DOUBLE FEED MECHANISM July 1, 1969 sheet 2 @fe Filed March 13, 1967 AUTOMATIC AND SEMI-AUTOMATIC GUNS HAVING A DOUBLE FEED MEQHANISM Filed MaICh 13, 1967 B. MAILLARD July "I, 1969 Sheet.

B. MAILLARD July l 1969 AUTOMATIC AND SEMI-AUTONWPIC GUNS HAVING A DOUBLE FEED MECHANISM Filed March 15 1967 Sheet July l, 1969 B. MAILLARD 3,452,640

AUTOMATIC AND sDN1-AUToNAT1o GUNS HAVING A DOUBLE FEED MEcHANrsM Filed lMarch 1s, 1967 sheet 5 of e B. MAILLARD July l, 1969 AUTOMATIC AND SEMI-AUTOMATIC GUNS HAVING A DOUBLE FEED MECHANISM Sheet Filed March 13 1967 United States Patent O 3,452,640 AUTOMATIC AND SEMI-AUTOMATIC GUNS HAVING A DOUBLE FEED MECHANISM Bernard Maillard, Geneva, Switzerland, assgnor to Brevets Aero-Mecanques S.A., Geneva, Switzerland Filed Mar. 13, 1967, Ser. No. 622,643 Claims priority, applicatiir lIlxembourg, Sept. 29, 1966,

U.S. Cl. 89-33 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In an automatic or semi-automatic gun having two cartridge belt feed mechanisms offset with respect to the gun axis and switchable with respect to the gun breech casing so that one of them is inoperative whereas the other is located to bring a cartridge across the path of travel of the breechblock, the disposition of each of said cartridge belt feed mechanisms so that it is pivotable with respect to the breech casing about an axis parallel to the gun axis.

The present invention relates to automatic and semiautomatic guns (in particular to those having a caliber ranging from 2O to 50 mm.) adapted to be fed with cartridges from either of two belt feed mechanisms mounted on the gun and which respectively supply cartridges generally, but not necessarily, of different respective natures (for instance explosive shell cartridges for one of the belt feed mechanisms and armor piercing shell cartridges for the other belt feed mechanisms), the term double feed including the two belt feed mechanisms one or the other of which cooperates with the gun proper.

The object of the present invention is to provide a gun of this type which is better adapted to meet the requirements of practice than those existing at the present time, in particular concerning the volume they occupy transversely with respect to the gun and the facility of taking said belt feed mechanisms to pieces.

The guns with which the present invention is concerned comprise two belt feed mechanisms offset with respect to the gun axis and each adapted to cooperate with the gun breechblock in such manner that this breechblock ensures the introduction into the gun of the first cartridge to be fired from the belt feed mechanisms that is considered when this breechblock is coming back into closing position, each of said two belt feed mechanisms being adapted to shift, by swinging thereof, from a position of rest wherein the first cartridge to be fired of this belt feed mechanisms is out of reach from the gun breechblock, to an` active position wherein said first cartridge is located on the path of travel of said breechblock. The essential feature of the present invention consists in mounting the two cartridge belt feed mechanisms in such manner that each of them is adapted to swing about an axis at least approximately parallel to the firing axis of the gun.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be hereinafter described with reference to the appended drawings, given merely by way of example, and in which:

FIG. 1 shows a gun according to the present invention seen from above;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the gun of FIG. 1 seen from the left, with a portion cut away;

FIG. 3 shows on an enlarged scale some elements of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but corresponding to a different position of operation of the gun;

FIG. S shows, on an enlarged scale, the gun of FIG. l seen from the rear, in operative position;

ICC

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but shows the gun when one belt feed mechanism is being removed;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing another embodiment of the gun according to the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but relating to still another embodiment of the invention.

It should be recalled that an atuomatic or semiautomatic gun intended to fire both on land targets and on flying targets must be provided with two feeding mechanisms for economic and tactical reasons.

As a matter of fact, an armor piercing shell is of a cost about two and a half times that of an explosive shell. If only a gun having a single feed mechanism is available, either the two different types of ammunition are included in a single belt, which is not economical, or two different belts are used one consisting merely of explosive shells and the other of armor piercing shells and these two belts must be set in position alternately by the gunner according to the target on which he is firing, which involves a considerable waste of time, which may be fatal.

This drawback is obviated by providing such a gun with two different belt feed mechanisms, one being fitted with explosive shell cartridges and the other with armor piercing shell cartridges, said belt feed mechanisms being arranged in such manner that each of them can be instantaneously and successively engaged for firing according to the target to be fired on. In this case one of the belt feed mechanisms may be disposed on the left hand side of the firing axis and the other on the right hand side thereof.

The gun according to the present invention comprises two cartridge belt feed mechanisms 1 and 2 offset with respect to the axis XX of the gun and each cooperating with said gun in such manner that the breechblock performs the introduction into the gun of the first cartrirdge to be fired (designated by A for feed mechanism 1 and B for feed mechanism 2) from the feed mechanism that is in active position when said breechblock returns to its closing position from the opening position illustrated by FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. Each of said feed mechanisms is adapted to be swung from an inoperative position, for which the first cartridge of this feed mechanism is out of reach from the breechblock 3 of the gunto an active position for which said first cartridge is located on the path of travel of said breechblock so that it is caught and driven by it. As a rule each of the belt feed mechanisms comprises guide surfaces, diagramamtically shown at 4 and 5 in FIG. 5, on which the first cartridge to be fired, A or B, rests in waiting position.

As can be seen in FIGURES 1 and 2, the breech casing 9 carries the barrel (projecting towards the left in these figures) whose axis coincides with the axis X-X of the gun and is thus xed with respect to the breech casing. As is well known, the barrel and breech casing can either recoil together in one type of gun, or the barrel can recoil with respect to the breech casing in another type of gun.

The chief object of the present invention is to secure and hinge the two belt feed mechanisms on the gun or its support in such manner that the total space that is occupied is minimum, in particular for a gun intended to be fitted in an armored turret.

For this purpose, the two belt feed mechanisms 1 and 2 are mounted in such manner that each of them swings with respect to the gun about an axis, such as YY (FIG. 2), at least approximately parallel to the firing axis XX of the gun. The pivoting movements of the two feed mechanisms can take place either about a common axis, as shown by FIGS. 2, 5 and 8, or about two respective axes, as shown by FIG. 7. Advantageously, as shown, the pivot axis or axes consists of a hinge 6 (FIGS. 2, 5 and 8) or two hinges 6a and 6b (FIG. 7), pivoted about a spindle 7 (FIGS. 2, 5 and 8) or spindles 7a and 7b (FIG. 7), said spindle, or spindles, being substantially paralel to axis XX. Preferably, as shown, this spindle is arranged in such manner, with respect to the portions of the hinge that are rigid with the gun, that it can occupy a rst angular position about its axis for which it keeps the feed mechanism or mechanisms secured to the gun and at least one other angular position for which it permits the removal of one feed mechanism transversely with respect to said spindle.

According to the embodiment of the hinge shown by FIGS. 2, 5 and 8, the fixed portion of the single hinge 6 comprises eyes 8 rigid with the breech casing 9 (they might be rigid with the gun support, according to a modification not illustrated), said eyes being located at a distance from one another such that they can receive forks and 11 rigid with feed mechanisms 1 and 2, respectively, and which constitute the movable portions of the hinge. Spindle 7 extends through eyes 8 and forks 10 and 11. Spindle 7 has opposite forks 10 and 11, flat faces 47 the distance a between which is smaller than the opening b of said forks, which opening is itself smaller than the diameter d of the portions of spindle 7 which are unprovided with flat faces. Spindle 7 is fitted with resilient Washers 53 (FIG. 2) adapted yieldably to keep it in the angular position shown by FIG. 5, where the faces 47 thereof make an angle with the openings of forks 10 and 11. Furthermore a lever 54 (FIGS. 2 and 8) fixed to spindle 7 permits, by rotating it about its axis against the resistance of washers 53, to bring it in the position where its at faces 47 are in line with the edges of the openings in forks 10 (FIG. 6) in order to permit the removal of feed mechanism 1. Spindle 7 can also be moved by lever 54 into the position where its flat faces 47 are in line with the edges of forks 11 so as to permit of removing feed mechanism 2. Of course the respective openings of forks 10 and 11 are offset angularly, as shown by FIGS. 5, 6 and 8, so that the two feed mechanisms cannot be removed simultaneously.

According to the embodiment of FIG. 7, each hinge 6a or 6b includes the same elements as the hinge 6 of FIGS. 5, 6 and 8, these elements being designated by the same reference numerals, with the addition of letters a or b according as the hinge is 6a or 6b. The only difference is that between each pair of eyes 8 there is only one fork 10 or 11.

Feed mechanisms 1 and 2 are provided with side plates 12 and 13 carried by hinges 14 and 15 and normally secured in closing position by hooks 16 urged into housings 17 of the feed mechanisms in which they are held by springs (not shown by the drawings). Hooks 16 are rigid with levers 18 which permit of disengaging them from housings 17 when it is desired to bring plates 12 and 13 into opening positions, for instance for loading or unloading the gun. Preferably, as shown in particular by FIGS. 1 and 2, hinges 14 and 15 are located at the front part of side plates 12 and 13 so that the latter open from the rear toward the front, which makes their operation easier. FIG. 1 shows in dot-and-dash lines the position that may be assumed by side plate 13 when it is open.

Preferably, as shown by FIGS. 5 and 7, the gun is arranged in such manner that cartridge belts 19 and 20 enter feed mechanisms 1 and 2 on the same side of the gun, and in particular in the upward direction, and that the links 21 and 22 are ejected on the other side. Also preferably, the gun is arranged so that the empty cartridge cases are ejected on the same side as the belt links, as diagrammatically illustrated by the arrow F of FIGS. 5 and 7. The empty cartridge case ejection slot is shown at 23 in FIG. 1.

But the cartridge belts may enter from opposed sides, as shown at 19a and 20a in FIG. 8, their links 21a and 22a being ejected also on opposed sides. This arrangement may be interesting in the case of a gun disposed horizontally with one cartridge belt coming in from the right hand side and the other cartridge belt from the left hand side, ejection of the empty cartridge cases taking place toward the left as `diagrammatically illustrated by arrow F.

For practical purposes, it is necessary to interconnect the cartridge feed mechanisms through mechanical means capable, when one of said mechanisms is brought from its position of rest to its active position, of bringing the other feed mechanism from active position into position of rest and to secure both of these mechanisms in the respective positions they have been given.

In the embodiments shown by the drawings, such means comprise a link 24 guided so as to be slidable transversely with respect to the gun axis XX and connected with feed mechanisms 1 and 2 in such manner as not to interfere with their removal. For this purpose, said link is provided with notches 25 (FIGS. 5 to 8) each of which cooperates with a pin 26 rigid with the corresponding feed mechanism, said notches opening toward spindle 7 or toward that of spindles 7a and 7b which carries this feed mechamsm.

In order to give link 24 its transverse sliding movement, there is provided a sliding piece 27 guided longitudinally with respect to the gun and a lever 28 pivoted on said gun and connected with link 24, a mechanical connection being provided between sliding piece 27 and lever 28 to transform the longitudinal sliding movement of said sliding piece 27 into a movement of rotation of lever 28.

According to the embodiment disclosed more particularly by FIGS. 3 and 4, breech casing 9 carries a spindle 29 extending through a longitudinal slot 30 of sliding piece 27, lever 28 being secured to the free end of said spindle 29. Furthermore, sliding piece 27 is provided with an edge adapted to slide along a longitudinal surface 9a of the breech casing, which prevents it from rotating about spindle 29. Therefore sliding piece 27 can only have a longitudinal translatory movement during which spindle 29 moves in slot 30. The gunner may impart this movement to sliding piece 27 through direct or indirect control means (such as acable slidable in a sheath or a hydraulic, pneumatic, electromagnetic or similar control gear) acting for instance upon a projection 27a of sliding piece 27.

Lever 28 includes a head 28a of arcuate shape in plan view, as shown by FIGS. 3 and 4, and of dovetail shape in profile view, so tht this head can remain engaged in mortise 31 provided in link 24 Whatever be the position thereof. Lever 28 carries, on the side of sliding piece 27, two rollers 32 and 33 which cooperate with a projecting cam 34 rigid with sliding piece 27. This cam comprises a iiat face 34a parallel to the gun axis XX and oblique surfaces 34b and 34C with which rollers 32 and 33 are adapted to cooperate, respectively. Either of these two rollers can run on flat face 34a.

The gun above described works in the following manner.

In the position shown by FIGS. l, 3, and 5, cartridge feed mechanism 1 is in a position such that its first cartridge A is outside of the path of travel of breechblock 3. On the contrary, cartridge feed mechanism 2 is in a position for which its first cartridge B is located in said path of travel. Therefore, when the gun is tiring, the cartridges of belt 20 are introduced into the gun and fired. In this position, as shown by FIG. 3, roller 32 bears against flat face 34a. Lever 28 is therefore prevented from rotating in the clockwise direction about spindle 29 and consequently link 24 cannot move toward the top of FIG. 3. Cartridge feed mechanisms 1 and 2 are therefore locked in their respective positions.

If, now, the gunner wishes to fire shells belonging to belt 19, he moves sliding piece 27 toward the right of FIG. 3 into the position of FIG. 4. In the course of this movement, roller 32 first moves along the portion of surface 34a which is on its left in FIG, 3. Once this roller has reached inclined face 34h, lever 28 is no longer locked. At this time, roller 33 reaches inclined face 34e then runs along this face, imparting to lever 28 a rotation in the clockwise direction. This rotation produces an upward displacement of link 24 and consequently cartridge feed mechanism 2 is brought into position of rest whereas cartridge feed mechanism 1 is brought into active position. The two feed mechanisms then occupy a position symmetrical with that shown by FIG. 5. Finally, sliding piece 27 further moves toward the right, which brings roller 33 onto surface 34a and therefore locks lever 28, link 24 and the two cartridge feed mechanisms in the position they now occupy.

FIG. l shows that the fact that cartridge feed mechanisms 1 and 2 are pivoted about one axis or two axes parallel to the gun axis XX permits of reducing the space occupied by the gun in the transverse direction at the level of said feed mechanisms. This is due to the fact that a rotation through a relatively small angle is sufficient for causing the first cartridge A or B to move from its position of rest to its active position. As a consequence of this double angular displacement, the portion of the cartridge feed mechanism which is most remote from the gun axis XX undergoes but a relatively small displacement in the radial direction, so that the space necessary for the displacement of the cartridge feed mechanism is reduced with respect to what would be necessary if said feed mechanisms were rotatable about an axis or two axes disposed in a different direction.

What I claim is:

1. An improved self-loading gun comprising:

a gun barrel,

a breech casing, said breech casing having two introaxis of said gun barrel is fixed with respect to said breech casign, said breech casing having two introduction openings disposed on opposite sides thereof for the introduction of cartridge to be tired, and an ejection opening for the ejection of spent cartridge cases,

a breechblock reciprocable with respect to said breech casing along the gun barrel axis,

two cartridge belt feed mechanisms disposed on opposite sides of said breech casing for co-operating respectively with said two introduction openings, each `said cartridge feed belt mechanism having a passage for the continual introduction of a belt formed of cartridges and interconnecting links, and a passage for the continual ejection of the links as the cartridges are introduced into the corresponding introduction opening, said two cartridge belt feed mechanisms being switchable with respect to said breech casing so that one of them is inoperative whereas the other is active and brings a cartridge into the path of travel of said breechblock for feed of said cartridge to said breech casing.

wherein the improvement consists in that each of said cartridge belt feed mechanisms is mounted directly on hinge means whereby each cartridge belt feed mechanism is switchable by pivoting thereof with respect to said breech casing about a pivot axis at least substantially parallel to the gun barrel axis, said pivot axis being disposed so that the plane defined by said pivot axis and said gun barrel axis is disposed so that said two introduction openings are disposed on opposite sides of said plane.

2. A gun according to claim 1 wherein both of said feed mechanisms are pivotable about the same axis.

3. An improved self-loading gun comprising:

a gun barrel,

a breech casing carrying said gun barrel so that the axis of said gun barrel is fixed with respect to said breech casing, said breech casing having two introduction openings disposed on opposite sides thereof for the introduction of cartridges to be tired, and an ejection opening for the ejection of spent cartridge cases,

breechblock reciprocable with respect to said breech casing along the gun barrel axis,

two cartridge belt feed mechanisms disposed on opposite sides of said breech casing for co-operating respectively with said two introduction openings, each said cartridge feed belt mechanism having a passage for the continual introduction of a belt formed of cartridges and interconnecting links, and a passage for the continual ejetcion of the links as the cartridges are introduced into the corresponding introducing opening, said two cartridges belt feed mechanisms being switchable with respect to said breech casing so that one of them is inoperative whereas the other is active and brings a cartridge into the path of travel of said breechblock for feed of said cartridge to said breech casing,

wherein the improvement consists in that each of said a gun barrel,

breech casing carrying said gun barrel so that the axis of said gun barrel is fixed with respect to said breech casing, said breech casing having two introduction openings disposed on opposite sides thereof for the introduction of cartridges to be tired, and an ejection opening for the ejection of spent cartridge cases,

a breechblock reciprocable with respect to said breech casing along the gun barrel axis,

two cartridge belt feed mechanisms disposed on opposite sides of said breech casing for co-operating respectively with said two introduction openings, each said cartridge feed belt mechanism having a passage for the continual introduction of a belt formed of cartridges and interconnecting links, and a passage for the continual ejection of the links as the cartridges are introduced into the corresponding introduction opening, said two cartridge belt feed mechansims being switchable with respect to said breech casing so that one of them is inoperative whereas the other is active and brings a cartridge into the path of travel of said breechblock for feed of said cartridge to said breech casing,

each of said cartridge belt feed mechanisms being switchable by pivoting thereof with respect to said breech casing about a second axis at least substantially parallel to the gun barrel axis,

either the said breech casing or each cartridge belt feed mechanism carrying, rigid therewith, a plurality of eyes in line along said second axis,

the other of said breech casing or each cartridge belt feed mechanism carrying, rigid therewith, a hollow cylinder hinge element adapted to lit with said eyes coaxially therewith, said hollow cylindrical hinge element being provided with a slot parallel to the generatrices thereof and extending through said hollow cylindrical hinge element from the inside to the outside thereof,

a spindle extending through said eyes and said hollow to the width of said slot and pulling `said cartridge belt feed mechanism apart from said breech casing whereby said spindle passes from inside said hollow cylindrical hinge element, through said slot, to the outside of said hollow cylindrical element.

5. An improved self-loading gun comprising:

a gun barrel,

a breech casing carrying said gun barrel so that the axis of said gun barrel is fixed with respect to said breech casing, said breech casing having two introduction openings disposed on opposite sides thereof for the introduction of cartridges to be tired, `and an ejection opening for the ejection of spent cartridge cases,

a breechblock reciprocable with respect to said breech casing along the gun barrel axis,

two cartridge belt feed mechanisms disposed on opposite sides of said breech casing for co-operating respectively with said two introduction openings, each said cartridge feed belt mechanism having a passage for the continual introduction of a belt formed of cartridges and interconnecting links, and a passage for the continual ejection of the links as the cartridges are introduced into the corresponding introduction opening, said two cartridge belt feed mehcanisms being switchable with respect to said breech casing so that one of them is inoperative whereas the other is active and brings a cartridge into the path of travel of said breechblock for feed of said -cartridge to said breech casing,

each of said cartridge belt feed mechanisms being switchable by pivoting thereof with respect to said breech casing about an axis at least substantially parallel to the gun barrel axis,

and a cover plate pivoted to each of said belt feed mechanisms at the front part thereof, so that said cover plate opens from the rear toward the front.

6. A gun according to claim 1, further comprising means operative in response to the movement of one feed mechanism from inoperative to active position for imperatively moving the other feed mechanism from active to inoperative position and locking said feed mechanisms in the respective positions they then occupy.

7. An improved self-loading gun comprising:

a gun barrel,

a breech casing carrying said gun barrel so that the axis of said gun barrel is fixed with respect to said breech casing, said breech casing having two introduction openings disposed on opposite sides thereof for the introduction of cartridges to be fired, and an ejection opening for the ejection of spent cartridge cases,

a breechblock reciprocable with respect to said breech casing along the gun barrel axis,

two cartridge belt feed mechanisms disposed on opposite sides of said breech casing for co-operating respectively with said two introduction openings, each said cartridge feed belt mechanism having a passage for the continual introduction of a belt formed of cartridges and interconnecting links, and a passage for the continual ejection of the links as the cartridges are introduced into the corresponding introduction opening, said two cartridge belt feed mechanisms being switchable with respect to said' breech casing so that one of them is inoperative whereas the other is active and brings a cartridge into the path of travel of said breechblock for feed of said cartridge to said breech casing,

each of said cartridge belt feed mechanisms being switchable by pivoting thereof with respect to said breech casing about an axis at least substantially parallel to the gun barrel axis,

means operative in response to the movement of one belt feed mechanism from inoperative to active position for imperatively moving the other belt feed mechanism from active to inoperative position and locking said belt feed mechanisms in the respective positions they then occupy.

said means comprising a link guided with respect to said breech casing so as to be slidable transversely with respect to the gun barrel axis, said link being provided with notches, and pins substantially parallel to the gun barrel axis and rigid with said belt feed mechanisms engaged in said notches to cooperate therewith.

8. A gun according to claim 7, further comprising a at sliding piece parallel to said gun barrel and slidable longitudinally with respect to said breech casing,

a lever pivoted to said breech casing about an axis perpendicular to said sliding piece,

means for operatively connecting said link with said lever and mechanical means for transforming the longitudinal sliding movements of said sliding piece into movements of rotation of said lever.

9. A gun according to claim 8, wherein said sliding piece is provided with a slot parallel to the' gun barrel axis,

said link is provided with a mortise hole and said lever includes an arcuate head engaging said mortise hole in a cooperative manner,

said gun further comprising,

a spindle carried by said breech casing and extending in a direction perpendicular to the gun barrel axis through said slot in said sliding piece, said spindle being slidable in said slot, said lever being carried by said spindle so as to be pivotable about the axis thereof,

two rollers journalled on said lever and having their axes parallel to the axis of said spindle, and

a cam carried by said sliding piece in xed position with respect thereto, said cam including a flat face parallel to the gun barrel axis, and two flat faces adjacent to and oblique to said iirst mentioned at face, said three at faces being adapted to cooperate with said rollers.

10. A gun according to claim 9, wherein said sliding piece includes, rigid therewith, a flat projection slidable along a longitudinal wall of the breech casing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,709,399 4/1929 Herlach et al 89-33 1,784,355 12/1930 Herlach et al 89-33 2,453,830 ll/1948 Chadwick et al 89-33 X BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner.

STEPHEN C. BENTLEY, Assistant Examiner.

'(gga UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent No. 3,452,640 Dated Julg l, 1969 Inventods) Bernard Maillard It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column l, line Column 2, line Column 3, line Column 4, line line 48, change "tht" to Column 5, line two intro the period to a comma.

Column 6, line to --Carrying said gun barrel line 36,

A9, please change "ejetcion" to --ejec- Column 8, line ll, the last word on this line should read --and; line 13, change the period to a comma.

(SEAL) Attest:

SIGNED AND SEALED MAY 191970 WILLIAM E. 60m, JR- Gonnissioner of Patents 

